Rising Alcohol Consumption in the UK

The Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) conducted a review of the 34 wealthiest countries in the world and revealed that on average, Brits consume 10.6 litres of pure alcohol per person every year. This is the equivalent to 115 bottles of wine and is an increase compared to the early 1990s when we were consuming less than 10 litres a year.

Not only is the concern that our consumption appears to be increasing, researchers have also commented on how this trend is a complete contrast to other nations including Germany and Italy who have witnessed a big decline in alcohol intake.

From all of the countries surveyed, the OECD worked out that the average number of litres of alcohol each individual is consuming per year is 9.1 - further highlighting Britain’s average of 10.6 as a concern. The findings have prompted the organisation to suggest that the UK considers steps such as minimum pricing and introducing tougher regulations.

It is thought that one of the reasons for the increase is because statistics show that more women are drinking higher volumes of alcohol than ever before. One trend that the report highlighted is that nearly one in five women from the highest educated groups drink to hazardous levels compared with just one in 10 amongst the least educated group.

This finding is unique to the UK and appears to be related to the increasing employment opportunities that women are being offered in traditionally male-dominated sectors such as finance.

Mark Pearson, an economist at the OECD commented:

“In terms of lost productivity, health spending, accidents and ill health, drinking costs a lot of money so I think it does clearly make sense to us that this is the sort of area that any country who cares about its economic performance has to take seriously.”